1729 Becomes proprietor and editor of the "Pennsylvania Gazette"; prints, anonymously, "Nature and Necessity of a Paper Currency"; opens a stationer's shop. 1730 Marries Rebecca Read. 1731 Founds the Philadelphia Library. 1732 Publishes the first number of "Poor Richard's Almanac" under the pseudonym of "Richard Saunders." The Almanac, which continued for twenty-five years to contain his witty, worldly-wise sayings, played a very large part in bringing together and molding the American character which was at that time made up of so many diverse and scattered types. 1733 Begins to study French, Italian, Spanish, and Latin. 1736 Chosen clerk of the General Assembly; forms the Union Fire         Company of Philadelphia. 1737 Elected to the Assembly; appointed Deputy Postmaster-General;         plans a city police. 1742 Invents the open, or "Franklin," stove. 1743 Proposes a plan for an Academy, which is adopted 1749 and develops into the University of Pennsylvania. 1744 Establishes the American Philosophical Society. 1746 Publishes a pamphlet, "Plain Truth," on the necessity for         disciplined defense, and forms a military company; begins         electrical experiments. 1748 Sells out his printing business; is appointed on the         Commission of the Peace, chosen to the Common Council,         and to the Assembly. 1749 Appointed a Commissioner to trade with the Indians. 1751 Aids in founding a hospital. 1752 Experiments with a kite and discovers that lightning is an electrical discharge. 1753 Awarded the Copley medal for this discovery, and elected a         member of the Royal Society; receives the degree of M.A.         from Yale and Harvard. Appointed joint Postmaster-General. 1754 Appointed one of the Commissioners from Pennsylvania to the         Colonial Congress at Albany; proposes a plan for the union         of the colonies. 1755 Pledges his personal property in order that supplies may be         raised for Braddock's army; obtains a grant from the Assembly         in aid of the Crown Point expedition; carries through a bill         establishing a voluntary militia; is appointed Colonel,         and takes the field. 1757 Introduces a bill in the Assembly for paving the streets of         Philadelphia; publishes his famous "Way to Wealth"; goes to         England to plead the cause of the Assembly against the         Proprietaries; remains as agent for Pennsylvania; enjoys the         friendship of the scientific and literary men of the kingdom. [HERE THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY BREAKS OFF] 1760 Secures from the Privy Council, by a compromise, a decision obliging the Proprietary estates to contribute to the public revenue.